Pictures from my trip to Mt. Baker

It has taken me all summer to finally accept the fact that I have allergies. I made it through 26 years without any allergies, but this summer something has tracked me down. I wonder if allergy season is worse this year though because my mom developed allergies this year after 61 years without them!

I'm going to Mt. Baker with my friend Melissa tomorrow. It's kind of a tradition for us. I'm excited! I will hopefully post pictures this weekend.

I don't even know what to write. I just need to do something to keep me awake until the laundry is done. Unfortunately I don't have much to wrote about because all I do these days is work, sleep, play dominoes with my mom, and play Max and Ruby Dress-up on the computer with my niece. My niece is 3 and I taught her tonight how to play the game by herself because I can only handle so much!

I got an email today about the Pastorate (a group of 25-30 people) I joined through the church I've been going to. I decided to read the names of the other people it was sent to (because I've only met 9 of the people so far) and it turns out I work with one of the guys in the group. So weird! I don't work with him often, but next time I see him I'll talk to him about it.

I've been looking for a used car so my dad doesn't have to drive me to and from work and so that I can go visit FGBI/C alumni in the Vancouver area. I'm having such a hard time not having anyone out here who I'm close with who I can talk to. Maybe I should have moved to Calgary or stayed in Eston...but no, I need to be where I am. It'll be alright.

Making the world real

(2 new updates on my other site).

I have been missing the community of FGBC (Full Gospel Bible College). While I was journaling recently, I wrote something along the lines that "my time within the community of FGBC has been the closest I have come to experiencing perfect community." It is NOT perfect community, but it is the closest I have come to experiencing it. I know of at least one group of individuals who reached even closer to this idea of perfect community, and I am excited.

While I have been thinking about this (and after watching the Saturday night 2006 Grad DVD), I have been reminded of the words/thoughts of 2 people. One is Brian Tysdal who does not like the conclusion that FGBC is a bubble (as in keeping people apart from "the real world"). He turns things around by asking, "What if FGBC is closer to being the real world?" If I remember correctly, he backed this up by saying that God is the only one who sees how things really are, so when we are living for Him and He is showing us certain things through His eyes, then we are able to live in the real world. The other person I am reminded of is Kaleena who wrote a post on August 20, 2003 that begins with the quote, "Welcome to the real world." I read that post exactly 3 years ago and what she wrote has stuck with me ever since.

I do not believe that we will ever have perfect community until the second coming of Christ when sin is no more, but I do believe that we can and need to strive for that perfection. Show me a community who is striving to love one another, forgive one another, be honest (and vulnerable) with one another, teach one another, learn from one another, encourage one another, pray for one another, challenge one another, support one another, provide for one another, and who actively desires this for others; show me this community and I will show you a community of transformation.

Being a missionary, whether overseas or in your own home, is important. I struggle with being a missionary (even when it involves nothing more than being present and being myself), but I try. My heart is for all people, but I have a strong desire towards the Church. I want to see the Church become the community described above. I have heard testimonies of people who came to know Christ by spending time with what seems to have become a rare Christian who was striving to become like Christ. I have also heard testimonies of people who have left and/or stayed away from church (the Church) - both the building and the people - because they have been hurt by the Church.

I have been to numerous churches in my life, and while there are some things I do not like that seem to have infected the Church, I have no desire to stop "attending church". Perhaps it is because I am away from the "taste of perfection" I had at FGBC, but I desire to get involved in my new home church, and work towards "disinfecting" the Church by bringing a "new" perspective on Church and community by building relationships with people and letting them see Christ in me. As I get to know them and Christ in them, I too will be striving towards perfection within the community.

As the Church strives towards perfection, we will have a positive impact in this world. As we learn to see the world, as it really is, through God's eyes, and as we impact the world based on this sight, we will be working towards making the world real. ("Heaven on earth" anybody?).

Student For Life Update

Well, I had previously said that I would let people know when I updated my Student For Life blog. Well, that time has come.

Practice makes...perfect???

"I feel the issue is that every Christian should be intellectual, whether their faith is simple or not. We have our mental faculties for a reason, and in many ways, thinking well and deeply just requires practice, which I feel the church is lacking the opportunities for. In addition, I am not saying simply that the sermons alone should be deeper, but rather every encounter in our faith."

I would by no means consider myself to be an intellectual, at least not on par with the author of the above statement nor those with whom he has been interacting. I do, however, agree with what he has said. While his first and third points are addressed on his site in some depth, I would like to share my thoughts on his second point: "thinking well and deeply just requires practice".

About 4-5 years ago when I found myself listening to challenging and sometimes controversial debates I would listen in hopes of learning just a little bit more, but believing that I would never be capable of contributing to such a discussion. Almost 2 years ago something happened to me that allowed me to begin thinking well. I don't know what it was exactly, but I remember the moment when I was sitting in class and my mind was physically in pain, so much so that I almost walked out of class. From that moment on I have described it with the words, "I felt the way I think changing." I don't know if it was because I was around more people who thought well or if it was because I was somewhat "forced" through my schooling to practice thinking well or if it was just my time, but it happened. I was not the only one who noticed it either. I remember shortly after there were two teachers (and another since then), whom I greatly respect, who talked to me after reading my papers, saying that they really noticed a positive difference in my writing.

While challenging thoughts have intrigued me over the last 5 years I used to shy away from them, but then as I had a couple close friends guiding me and teaching me to not not do something just because it scares me, I began to seek out these challenging conversations and to really pay attention to what was being said. And now, as I continue to read and hear challenging thoughts I have a greater desire to think well and even more deeply and to share my thoughts (though still cautiously) with those I interact with, and even here on this blog.

A brief tribute to Leif:

As I did not realize that Leif had started a blogspot blog, I have been greatly missing out. But now that I have come across it I have enjoyed catching up on His posts and the comments on them. Leif is a great thinker and is very challenging in how he presents his thoughts. While I have a few sources that have been challenging me since I have left college, Leif has a way of presenting his thoughts in a clear manner and of inviting thought-provoking comments. Over the last few years he has become both a friend and great teacher to me. I'm sure most people who read this are already aware of Leif's posts over the summer, but for those who are not I highly recommend reading over any or all of his posts.

mustard seed

Do you pray if you don't believe? Do you believe if you doubt? When so many options are thrown at you, is it any wonder you doubt? Where is your faith? Are all as lost as you? Can you muster the strength once again?

FINALLY!!!

Yes, that's right...I finally have internet access at home!!!

I had a really good dream this afternoon (yes, I work graveyards, so I sleep in the morning and afternoon)...I had a dream that about 7 people from FGBI/C surprised me by coming to visit me in Abbotsford. It was so good to "see" some of you again!

I still like my job.